Trip to Yosemite National Pa

Yosemite National Park is a long way from San Francisco, more than 4 hours' drive, so we had an early start. Picked on time at 6'20 am in a 21 seater van, with latino driver named Rick. Nice early morning start with Sinatra on the sound system. Rick was a mine of information. We passed what he called a farm, with more than 7000 windymills, closed in the winter to protect the birdlife!

9am stop at a supermarket at Merced for breakfast
San Joaquin valley. Rick gave us lots of facts about the fruit production here. For example 80% of the worlds almonds, more oranges than Florida, etc etc

11.45 Arrival at Yosemite park
Parking stop with rocks & waterfall while Rick put on snow chains
Next stop tunnel view El Capitan Cathedral rocks Bridalveil falls
Next stop. Bridalveil falls walk through 18 inches of snow. Wet feet from snow wet head hair from snow falling from trees, lots of fun but very cold & wet.

Next stop view of Yosemite Falls 2425 feet highest in North America, 5th highest in the world
Next Rick gave us a lesson on the various big trees, there were ponderosa pines, redwoods, black oak, sugar pine
Then we had tests to prove we had been listening
We saw deer by the road

Next stop
Yosemite falls close up
Lunch sandwich looking up at the falls
Yosemite park visitor centre
Cup of tea plus a warmup

Wish we had snowboots. Cold wet feet

Laststop 3.20pm view of Bridalveil falls & El Capitan
Starting to mist up & getting much colder
Time to head back to San Francisco (3.30)
Stop at Merced (5pm) for broccoli & cheese soup.

Arrival back at hotel @ 8.45pm, & gained real pleasure in removing & wringing out wet socks.